Giroud Header Seals Arsenal Win In Season-Opening Thriller

A feast of goals opened the Premier League season when Arsenal twice came from behind to beat Leicester City 4-3 with substitute Olivier Giroud heading a late winner on Friday.

Arsenal’s new signing Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette took 94 seconds to make his mark with a header from Mohamed Elneny’s curling cross to equal the record for the fastest opening goal in a Premier League season.

Shinji Okazaki scored a quick equaliser, Jamie Vardy put Leicester ahead and Danny Welbeck levelled for Arsenal before halftime. Vardy then restored Leicester’s lead at 3-2 early in the second half before goals in the final seven minutes from substitutes Aaron Ramsay and Giroud gave Arsenal victory.

“Going forward and character wise we have been great,” said a relieved Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who will be seeking a first league title since 2004 after being handed another two years in charge.

“We had some avoidable goals which we conceded and overall we have to work on that,” he said referring to poor marking in the by his team’s defence.